Addressing machines



Feb. 16, 1960 R. H. WILLIAMS 2,925,031

ADDRESSING MACHINES Filed July 10, 1957 4 Sheets-sheaf 1 IN VEN TOR,

197' mew 5 {J Feb. 16, 1960 Filed July 10, 1957 R. H. WILLIAMS 2,925,031ADDRESSING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 '5 INVENTOR, ,eoeser bf 10/10/7015KWI'OQA/EV Feb. 16, 1960 R. H. WILLIAMS 2,925,031

ADDRESSING MACHINES Filed July 10, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 on v N N N NINVENTOR, leaeser Mill/7M6 Feb. 16, 1960 R. H. WILLIAMS 2,925,031

ADDRESSING MACHINES Filed July 10, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR,08597 (fill/19445 ADDRESSING MACHINES Robert H. Williams, Santa Ana,Calif. Application July 10, 1957, Serial No. 673,553

- 19 Claims. (Cl. 101-1325) This invention relates to printing machineswherein a master copying sheet, generally in the form of a card, isprovided with a negative type original in suitable copymg ink and theblank sheet to be printed on is previously moistened with a quickdiffusing and quick drying sol vent, and said sheets are then pressedtogether face to face to transfer the negative image from the mastersheet onto the blank sheet.

It is a broad object of the invention to provide such a pr nting machinewhich comprises relatively few parts and yet performs all the requiredfunctions of the printing method above noted .quickly and efiiciently.

Certain prior printing machines employing this method depend, foraccurate control of the printing sheets (master and blank) on clampscarried on the printing rollers to which the sheets are fed in timedrelation by feed mechanisms external to said rollers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a printmg machine of thegeneral type above mentioned which dispenses with clamps for controllingthe master and blank sheets and yet functions rapidly and uniformly,

first to bring these sheets together in accurate superimconsidering itscost.

Another object is to provide such a machine which will I permitcontinuous loading ofmaster cards and envelopes, which will re stack thecards in thezsame order in which they are fed in and face up, and willstack the envelopes, addressed side up.

A still further object is to provide such a simple, inexpensiveaddressing machine Which can be sold at a low price for manual operationbut which, by the simple addition of a drive motor, can be convertedinto a motordriven addressing machine having a relatively high capacity.

The manner of accomplishingthe foregoing objects as well as furtherobjects and advantages will be made manifest in thefollowing-description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

' Fig. 2 is a side elevational view ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 ofFig. l, and illustrating the operation of the invention. 4

Fig. fl is a fragmentary detail view of the envelope separator takenenine line 4 -4 of Fig. 3.

United States Patent E ice 2 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of thecard separator taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic fragmentary front elevational view of theinvention and particularly illustrating the separate card and envelopestacking means.

Fig. 7--is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6. i

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic face view of an address card used in theinvention.

Fig. 9 is a face view of a piece of mail matter, such as a mailingenvelope, which the invention is adapted to address.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing the card of Fig. 8 reversedand overlying said envelope, as takes place in the operation of theinvention, during which said envelope is first spirit moistened, thecard placed thereagainst as shown in this view, and then the two pressedtogether to transfer an address from said card onto said envelope.

Fig. 11 is a face view of an envelope after this has been separated fromsaid card and diagrammatically showing the address received by saidenvelope from said card.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the addressing machine 15 showntherein has a rectangular frame 16 end angle members 17 and 18 and sideangle members 19 and 20 which are preferably cast integral to formcorner bosses 21 which are vertically apertured to receive rod legs 22,the latter being secured to the frame by pins 23. Legs 22 are bentslightly just below the frame 16 to spread apart'symmetrically as shownin Figs.4 and 5, said legs having rubber tips 24 on their lower ends.

Bars 25 and 26 extend alongside and are secured to frame side members 19and 20 by screws 27. These bars are apertured to form bearings for aroller shaft 30 on which is fixed an envelope feed and printing roller31. Bars 25 and 26 also have horizontal slots 32 for rotatably receivinga shaft 33 on which is mounted a card i 36 which are constantly in meshto cause these shafts to feed and printing roller 34 which is preferablythe same diameter as roller 31 and disposed in offset relation therewith(Fig. 1).

Shafts 30 and 33 also have fixed thereon gears 35 and rotate inone-to-one relation.

Rotatably slipped over the extending ends of shaft 33 are collars 37which are connected by springs 38 to pins 39 fixed in bars 25 and 26 soas to constantly and yield-,

ably urge rollers 31 and 34 into rolling relation and to constantly holdgears 35 and 36 in mesh, and to supply the yieldable pressure necessaryfor the printing operation.

Fixed on one end of shaft 30 is a crank handle 40 for manually operatingthe machine 15.

Secured to opposite end faces of the roller 31 are cams 41, the purposeof which will be made clear hereinafter.

The peripheral surface 45 of roller 31 is preferably smooth so as toproduce a minimum of friction between said surface and envelopes beingfed by said roller. Se-

rugated.

cured to said surface in the particular locations shown in Figs. 1 and 2are rubber printing cushion 46 and a pair of spaced rubber envelopefeeding strips 47 which are preferably transversely corrugated on theirouter surfaces.

' Outer surface 48 of roller 34 is likewise polished smooth and isprovided with a rubber printing cushion 49 and spaced rubber cardfeeding strips 50, the outer surfaces of which strips are preferablytransversely cor- Supported above roller 31 by metal straps'53, whichare fixed to side frame members 19 and 20, is an envelope hopper 54.This hopper has side walls 55, the upper rear corner portions 56 ofwhich are flared outwardly,

Provided on hopper end wall 57 and extending outwardly therefrom isa'screw stud 63 on which a wing nut 64 is screwed. This stud and nutsecure the back plate 68 ofan envelope separator 69 to said wall 57,

for vertical yadjustmentof said separator on said wall This isaccomplished by providing a vertical slot 70 (Fig.4) in the plate 68which is slipped over the stud 63 before the wing nut 64 is screwed onthe latter.

The plate 68 is contoured as shown in Fig. 2 so as to receive a rubberroller wiping element 72, the upper end of which is secured to plate 68by-a bolt 73. The element 72 is distorted by the plate 68 from itsnormally straight form and caused to yieldably press itself against theroller 31.

The lower portion of theplate 68 is also arched and positioned so as tohold the lower portion-of rubber element 72 pressurably against and inconformity with the surface 45 of roller 31. These features result inthe element 72 being pressurably applied to the topmost envelopes ofthose placed in the hopper 56 so that these are held back, while onlythe single, lowermost envelope is being fed past element 72 byengagement of envelope feeding strips 47 therewith.

Mounted above the card roller 34 on metal straps 74, lower ends of whichare fixed on frame side members 19 and 20 is a card hopper 75 havingside walls 76* and an end wall '77. Upper rear corner portions 78of'side walls 76. are outwardly'flared, and a card back rest'plate 79having side flanges80 is pivotally supported by bolts .81 on side walls76 so as to be adjustable about the axis of said bolts. Inner faces ofside walls 76 of hopper 75.are preferably in the same planes as the endfaces of roller 34 (Fig. 1). End wall 77 has a lower edge 82 in which aseparator receiving recess 83 is formed (Fig. 5).

Provided on hopper front wall- 77 and extending. outwardly therefrom isa screw stud 84 having screwed thereon a wing nut 85. A back plate 86 ofa card separator 87 has a vertical slot 88 (Fig. 5) in an upper portionthereof which fits over stud 84and the separator is secured on hopperwall 77 by the wing nut 85 to allow vertical adjustment of saidseparator. The card separator 87 isconstructed similarly to envelopeseparator 69, a rubber roller wiping element 89 being secured at itsupper end to plate 86 by a bolt 90. The plate 86 is shaped to hold thewiping element 89 in tension against card feedingroller 34, and has ascrew jack 91 mounted on its lower end for applying adjustable pressuredownwardly against a plate 92 bonded to the upper surface of element 89at its lower end. The jack 91 permits the pressure with which the plate86 holds the wiping element 89 against card roller 34 to be manuallyadjusted to make certain that only one card at a time is fed from thecard hopper 75.

It is to be noted in Fig. 1 that envelope feed strips47 arespaced aparton roller 31 to closely by-pass envelope separator 69. The card feedstrips 50 are .likewise spaced on roller 34 so as to closely by-passcard separator 87.

The end hopper walls 57- and 77 are held in spaced relation by aU-shaped moistener mounting strap. 93 which is secured to said walls bybolts 94 and has a horizontal middle portion 95 on which a moistener 96is mounted.

The moistener 96 includes an inverted U-shaped housing 100 having anupper wall 101, side walls 102 and a bottom wall 103 forming asolventdrain sump 104, which is shaped as shown in Fig. 3. The frame 100is secured to mounting strap 93 by a threaded nipple105,

provided on a solvent supply unit 106, beingextended downwardly throughsuitable apertures in strap portion and upper wall 101 and having a nut107 screwed on said nipple. A screw 108 is also extended downwardthrough a suitable aperture in strap portion 95 and screwed into atapped hole provided therefor in upper wall 101.

The unit 106 is preferably ,a standard visible oil reservoir unit havinga glass tank'109 forholding solvent 110, and a needle valve 111 forregulating the gravity flow of solvent from the tank 109 downwardly andout of the nipple'105,-or shutting off said flow as desired.

Provided in moistener housing side walls 102 are aligned slots 115through which a shaft 116 extends. Rotatably mounted on said shaftbetween said walls is a moistener roller 117, while fixed to oppositeends of said shaft outside said walls are cam follower rollers 118 and119. The hub of roller 118 abuts against the adjacent side wall 102 anda collar'120 fixed on shaft 116 abuts against the other side wall toposition shaft 116 axially.

Fixed at their upper ends by bolts'121 on side walls 102 are wiresprings'122, the lower ends of which springs "lie between moistenerroller 117 and walls 102 and press against shaft 116 to yieldably urgeroller 117 towards roller 31.

The camfollower ro'llers118 and 119 are aligned with the cams41 onroller 31 andare engaged by same cams,

iintojthe bottom of sump 104.

Connected with the upper end of sheath 126 is a felt pad 127 made ofseveral thicknesses of felt and embodying a metal weight 128. The upperend portion 129 of metal core is inclined upwardly beneath a portion ofpad 127 so as to convey back to sheath 126 any excessive amount ofsolvent released onto said metal core portion 129 whereby no excessiveamount of solvent may be delivered onto moistener roller117.

The pad 127 extends beyond the inner extremity of core portion 129 andtheextending portion of the pad overlies the moistener roller 117 and isheld down against this by weight 128.

from said nipple when valve 111 is opened. The pad 127 becomes saturatedwith solvent by the solvent spreading by wick action to 'its oppositeends. The weighted half of pad 127, overlying 'and resting on moistenerroller 117, is thus kept wet with solvent without the solventaccumulating in'the weighted pad end enough to cause this solvent to rundown the smooth peripheral surface of moistener roller 117. In thismanner, thelatter roller always picks upa coating of solvent frompad 127when roller 117 isrotated, but so longas it is not rotated, the portionsof the surface of this roller not in actual contact with pad'127,quickly become and remain dry.

To prevent the sump 104 overflowing, a drain tube 130 (Fig. 2) is fixedin the frontwall 102 to draw oft solvent accumulatingin the sump above agiven level. Tube 130 extends downwardly and has a flexible tubularextension 131 which is inserted in the apertured cap of a solventoverflow bottle 132 supported on a bracket 133 fixed on front side framemember 19.

"f'Fixed at its upper end on the back side card'hopper strap 74 is ametal envelope guide rail 138 which extends toward envelope roller 31(Figs. 1 and 2) and is then shaped to'follow the curvature of saidroller downwardly while slightly spacedfrorn-said-roller.

Fixed near its upper end on a bracket 139 mounted on front side framemember 19 is a metal card guide rail 104 which is spaced a slightdistance from card feed roller 34 and follows the curvature of thelatter downwardly.

The guide rail 138 is locatedopposite the rear portion 15 is seen to beprovided with an addressed envelope bin 141, a chute 142 for directingthe addressed envelopes thereto, a used card bin 143 and a chute 144 fordirecting used cards thereto. A cross truss 145 connects ,the legs 22just below their midpoints. The envelope bin is suspended from truss145. The card bin 143 rests on and is secured to said truss.

Chute 142 connects at its upper end to and receives envelopes from guiderail 138. It also connects at its upper end with a bracket 146 which issecured to frame end member 17.

Chute 144 connects at its lower end with card bin 143 and at its upperend with card guide rail 140 from which cards are delivered thereto. Itsupper end is also sup- 'ported by a bracket 147 secured to frame endmember 18.

It is to be noted (Fig. 7) that envelope bin 141 and chute 142 are intransverse alignment with envelope feed roller 31 so as to receive andcollect envelopes fed from the latter.

Likewise, card bin 143 and chute 144 are transversely aligned with cardfeed roller 34 so as to receive and collect cards fed from hopper 75 byroller 34. It is also to be noted that envelopes thus collected 3 in bin141 are deposited therein, addressed side up, while -the cards aredeposited in bin 143 with their copy-material-bearing faces upwardlyexposed, and in the same order in which they are fedinto said cardhopper.

Bins141 and 143 are each open at one end to permit envelopes and cardsaccumulating therein to be readily T removed from time to time.

Operation I FWhile machine 15 is broadly applicable to addressingvarious types of thin flexible pieces of mailing matter,

such as cards, folders, pamphlets and the like, it is, for

illustrative purposes, disclosed as used in addressing envelopes 150.

Cards 151 (Fig. 8),each of which has pasted thereon I a strip 152 oftape carrying in negative form an address in'copyin'g ink, are employedin this addressing operation. The envelopes 150 are placed in hopper 54with their faces exposed upwardly and infanned relation as shown in Fig.3. In like manner cards 151 are placed in card hopper 75. The needlevalve 111 of moistener 96 is now opened to allow solvent 110 to dripfrom supply'unit 106 *onto pad 127 until the latter is saturated.Addressing operations are now started by turning crank 40 to rotateshaft 30 in a counter clockwise direction.

This results, through gears 35 and 36, in shaft 33 'being turnedclockwise in one-to-one relation with shaft As long asonly the smoothperipheral surfaces of feed f rollers 31 and 34 are disposed oppositeand in contact with the bottom surfaces of the lowermost envelope 150and card 151 in'the hoppers 54 and 75', rotation of rollers 31 and 34does not cause the feeding of an envelope or a card. This is the reasonthese peripheral roller surfaces "are made smooth. When the co'rrugated'rubber feed strips 47 and 50, however, are "broughtby rotationof rollers 31 and 34 into frictional contact respectively with saidlowermost envelope and lowermostcard, these are propelled past theseparators 69 and 87 and move downu wardly withthe rotating-rollers 31and34 so as to be "tweenf'rollers 31 and 34.

rolled together when said envelope and card pass bein proper timedrelation.

6 Just as the feeding of an envelope and a card thus commences, the cams41" ride downwardly away from supporting relation-with cam followerrollers 118 and 119, whereupon the moistener'roller 117 is shifteddownward by springs 122 into rollingengageinent with the envelope beingfed, this "engagementcausing roller 117 to rotate and transfer solventfrom the pad 127 to the'envelope. Thus theenvelope surface is damp with.solvent where it is to be pressed against: card 151 as the envelope andcard are rolled downwardly'bet'weenrollers.31 and 34.

Rubber cushions 46 and 49 on therollers 31 and 34 are located on these.rollers so. .as to cooperatively appear .likewise permits the use ofrelatively thick and thus effective and long wearing corrugated feedstrips 47 and 50 which need not pass between rollers 31 and 34 andtherefore do not interfere'with the printing operation.

The separators 69 and 87 also possess many advantages in theirsimplicity, low cost, long life,and yet reliability as hold-backrestraining means to insure the feeding of only one card and oneenvelope at a time. Furthermore the wiping elements 72 and 89- of theseseparators are self adjusting over long periods of use providing theyare made of suitable material. The best material tried out for theseelements is a half-inch-thick piece of what is commercially known as'.semi-crepe sole rubber. It is soft and yet requires substantialpressure to deform the same. It is semi-spongy in character and retainsa fairly high coefiicient of friction evenas it wears down in use. it

Adjustment of this friction for one of these separators may always bemade by loosening the wing nut 64 or 85 by which this is mounted, and,after adjusting the separator downwardly; resetting said not;

The slanted back rest plates 'and 79 may be readily adjusted about theirpivotal supports to those angles (such as shown) in which these platestend to keep the envelopes and cards fanned whereby these willautomatically feed from their respective hoppers, one at a time for eachrevolution of the rollers ,31 and 34, and

Suitable marks may be applied to the hopper sidetwalls at thefactoryindicating the location of proper positions for plates 60 and 79.

The hoppers 54 and 75 are replaceable by like hoppers diifering only indimensions for handling cards and envelopes of other sizes thanenvelopes 150 and cards 151. On the other hand, hoppers 54 and 75 may bemodified by auxiliary spacers. etc. to adapt ;them for handlingdifferent sizes of envelopes and cards.

One of the distinct advantages-:of the invention is the continuousfeeding of envelopes and cards made possible by the separators 69 and 87andgthe angled back rests 60 and 79. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate thisoperation. While only a few envelopes 150 and cards 151 are shown inhoppers 54.an d 75, these hoppers may be kept filled with envelopes andcards a'nd these will be properly fed by the separators 69 and '87therefrom.

' the separators, prevents bridging of the cards and envelopes whenplaced in the. hoppers. .in fanned relation.

A continuous, concurrent and. properly timedfeeding of,

envelopes and cards is thus assured.

7 The steeply angled :back rests 60 and 79 are important factorsin-th'is' feeding and causethe last few cards and envelopes tofeedjproperly although having practically no weight pressing themdownwardly. It will be noted that thesewback rests hold the lowermostenvelope and oardso the lower ends of these substantially bisect theangles formed by the separators 69 and 87 with the rollers 31 and 34where said separators-bend out of contact withsaid rollers.

heredisclosed, it is to be understood that many modifications arepossible in the details of this without departing. from the spirit ofthe invention and the scope of the appendedlcl'aims.

This application is a continuation of my co-pending application SerialNo. 423,117., and is substituted for the latter application which ishereby abandoned.

The claims are:

. 1. In an addressing machine the combination of: a smooth surfacedcylindrical roller for feeding flat articles to be addressed; 'a smoothsurfaced cylindrical roller for feeding cards carrying soluble transfermaterial; means for rotatably mounting said rollers on parallel axeslocated in a substantially horizontal plane and with said rollers insubstantially rolling relation; a pair of hoppers disposed above andassociated respectively with said rollers for confining stacks of saidarticles and cards in fanned relation with lower ends of the lowestarticle and card insaid hoppers resting respectively upon upper surfacesof said rollers and inclined in the respective directions of movement ofsaid roller surfaces; a pair of stationary rubber separators wiping saidroller surfaces just in advance of said lower ends of saidlowest-article and card to temporarilyprevent movement of said article"and card with said roller surfaces; rubber friction strips on saidrollers in limited circumferential are'a's thereof for engagingrespectively said lowest article and lo'west card, gripping the same andfeeding them past said separators, and between said rollers, with saidarticle and card overlapping in a predetermined relation; and means formoistening said article with a solvent for-said transfer material as itis fed from said article hopper, whereby the pressure applied by saidrollers to said article and card as they pass therebetween transfers'aportion of said material onto said article to reproduce the pattern ofsaid material on said article.

2. A combination as in claim 1' in which separate receptacles areprovided for said articles and cards after the same have passed betweensaid rollers; and guides for directing said articles and cards todeliver the same face-up'to their respective receptacles.

3. A combination as in claim 1 in which said article roller and cardroller are arranged in axially staggered relation so that a certain endportion of each of said rollers is in non-overlapping relation with theother roller; separate receptacles for receiving said articles and cardsafter the printing operation; and individual guides disposedrespectively opposite said non-overlapping portions of said articleroller and card roller for delivering said articlesa'nd said cards totheir respective receptacles'. I

4. In an addressing machine, the combination of: a smooth surfacedcylindrical blank feed roller rotatably mounted on" a horizontal axis; afeed hopper disposed over said roller for confining a stack offannedblanks, such as envelopes, cards, and' the like, with the latterinclined obliquely with their upper edges supported" on said -hopper andtheir lower edges resting on-end on and supported by said roller; astationary rubber Thus it is amost impossible for the lowermostenvelopes and cards not to diverting means turns said cards to presentthe card separator provided on said hopper and bearing against said;rollerq-just in advance of said lower edges: of said blanks; segmentalfrictionalfeedmeans provided. on the periphery of said roller forsequentially engaging the lowermost blanks in said stack assaidfeedroller rotates to feed; said blanks one at a time" between said rollerand said separator; a moistening roller mounted on said hopperforrotational engagement with each bl'ank, as it is thus fed between saidseparator and said feed roller,'for moistening said blank with asolvent; and a printing roller mounted to bearv against and rotate withsaid feed roller-in parallel relation therewith so that each of saidblankspasses between said feed and printing rollers immediatelyfollowing contact of said blank with said moistening roller wherebycards carrying soluble transfer material may be individually inserteddownwardly between said feed and printing rollers in timed relation withthe feeding of said blanks between said rollers with each-card inoverlapping relation with one ofsaid blanksso thatsaid overlapping cardand blank gage the latter as said cards pass between said rollerswhereby said diverting means will divert said transfer cards awayfromthe blanks passing between saidrollers to facilitate independentstacking of said cards and blanks.

6. A- combination as in claim 5 in which said card printing faceupwardly; a card stacking receptacle positioned to receive said-cards asso turned; blank diverting means engaging said blanks so they aredischarged downwardly from between said rollers and turning said blanksto present their printed faces upwardly; and a blank stacking receptaclefor receiving said blanks as so turned. 7. In an addressing machine, thecombination of: a smoothsurfaced cylindrical blankfeed roller rotatablymounted on a horizontal axis; a feed hopper disposed over said rollerfor confining a stack of fanned blanks, such as blank envelopes, cards,and the like, with the latter inclined obliquely with their upper edgessupported on said hopper and their lower edges resting on-end on andsupported by saidroller; a stationary rubber. separator provided on saidhopper and bearing against said roller just in advance of said loweredges of said blanks; segmental frictional feed means provided on theperiphcry of said roller for sequentially engaging the lowermost blankin said stack as said roller rotates to feed said blanks one at a timebetween said roller and said separator; a moistening roller mounted onsaid hopper for rotational engagement with each blank as it is thus fedbetween said separator and said feed roller, for moistening said blankwitha solvent; a printing roller mounted to bear against and rotate withsaid feed roller and in parallel relation therewith so that each of saidblanks passes between said feed and printing rollers immediatelyfollowing contact of said blank with said moistening roller; and guidemeans for guiding a series or cards carrying soluble transfer materialwhile said cards are delivereddownwardly between said feed and printingrollers in overlapping relation with said blanks whereby the transfermaterial on each of said .cards will be pressed against the moistenedarea on one of said blanks and said material transferred to said blankby the simultaneous compression of said blank and card between meanspositions said transfer card inoifset relation with said blank feedroller when said card is delivered into overlying relation a blankpassing between said feed and printing rollers; and diverting meansdisposed opposite a portion of said transfer card which, "by virtue of'said offset relation of the latter, extends beyond one end of said feedroller, said means diverting said transfer lcard away from the blankonto which it has just delivered transfer material whereby said blankand said card are separated for independent stacking.

9.In aspirit printing machine the combination of: a (smooth surfacedcylindrical blank feed roller rotatably .iiiounted on a horizontal axis;a feed hopper disposed over said roller for confining a stack'of fannedblanks, such as blank envelopes, cards, and the like, with the latterinclined'sharply with the upper end of said stack supported on saidhopper andjits lower end resting on said roller; a stationary butyieldable frictional blank separator bearing against said roller just inadvance of and forming a stop for the lowerend of said stack of blanks;segmental frictional feed means on said roller for sequentially engagingthe blanks in said stack, as said roller irotates, .to feed said blanks,,oneat a time, between said feed roller and said separator;spiritmoistening means closely juxtaposed relative to said feed rollerin advance rof the lower end of, said stack of-blanks whereby each blankissuing from between said feed roller and said separator, while'stillin-' contact with said feed roller, is thus propelled against saidmoistening means to-moisten an area on said blank with spirit to preparethis for receiving an imprint applied with soluble transfer material;and means cooperating with said feed roller to effect a spirit printingoperation on said moistened blank.

10. A combination as in claim 9 in which said cooperating means includesa printing roller juxtaposed relative to said feed roller in advance ofsaid spirit moistening means and positioned to roll each moistened blankagainst said feed roller whereby the insertion of a master printingcard, having a negative thereon in soluble transfer material, betweensaid printing roller and said blank with said material facing said blankopposite said spirit moistened area, causes said card to be rolled bysaid printing roller against said blank, printing a positivereproduction of said negative thereon.

11. A combination as in claim 10 including means for advancing a masterprinting card into guided relation with each blank in proper timedrelation with the advancing of the latter towards said printing rollerso as to cause said positive reproductions to be uniformly spaced fromthe leading edges of said blanks.

12. In a spirit printing machine the combination of: a smooth surfacedcylindrical roller rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis; a feed hopperdisposed over said roller for confining a stack of fanned masterprinting cards, each having a negative thereon in soluble transfermaterial, with said cards inclined sharply with the upper end of saidstack supported on said hopper and its lower end resting on said roller;a stationary but yieldable frictional card separator bearing againstsaid roller just in advance of and forming a stop for the lower end ofsaid stack of cards; segmental frictional feed means on the periphery ofsaid roller for sequentially engaging the cards in said stack as saidrollers rotates, to feed said cards, one at a time between said rollerand said separator; an impression roller juxtaposed in parallel rollingrelation with said first roller at a point in advance of said cardseparator; and means cooperating with said card feed roller to deliver aspirit moistened blank between said card feed roller and said impressionroller, with each card fed from said hopper, to eifect a spirit printingoperation by pressing said card against said blank.

13. A combination as in claim 12 in which said blank is discharged frombetween said rollers along a given path in which said hopper and feedmeans feed said cards between said first roller and said separator witha substantial marginal portion of each card extending axially beyond oneend of said impression roller; and an arcuate, guide disposed axiallybeyond said end of said verging from said given path followed by saidblank to positively segregate said cards from said blanks.

14. In a printing machine, the combinationof: primary and secondaryrollers mounted in parallel rolling relation with each other; means fordriving said rollersfor simultaneously drawing therebetweena blank to beprint- ,ed which has been moistened with a spirit, and a master printingcard having a negative provided thereon in soluble transfer material onthe face of said card turned toward said blank, whereby a positive printof said negative is transferred to said blank as said blank and saidcard are compressed together between said rollers; means for feeding ablank and a master printing card between said rollers with said blankcontacting said primary roller, and said card contacting said secondaryroller to effect ,the printing operation aforesaid with a marginalportion of, said master card extending axially beyond one end of beyondsaid end of said primary roller and extending said secondary rollerwhereby said guide is engaged by and guides saidrnaster card betweensaid rollers and then continues in contact with said card to deflectsaid card, after the latter passes between said rollers, along a pathdiverging from the path followed by said blank to positively segregatesaid master cards from said blanks.

15. In a printing machine, the combination of: primary and secondaryrollers mounted in parallel rolling rela-' tion with each other; meansfor driving said rollers for simultaneously drawing therebetween a blankto be printed which has been moistened with a spirit, and a masterprinting card having a negative provided thereon in soluble transfermaterial on the face of said card turned toward said blank, whereby apositive print of said negative is transferred to said blank as saidblank and said card are compressed together between said rollers, saidblanks and printing cards comprising primary and secondary sheetelements in said printing operation; means for feeding said sheetelements between said rollers to effect a printing operation aforesaidwith a marginal portion of one of said sheet elements extending axiallybeyond an end of said primary roller; and guide means disposed axiallybeyond said end of said primary roller and extending between the axes ofsaid rollers in a position to be engaged by said marginal portion ofsaid one sheet element to deflect this one sheet element between saidrollers, and then continue in contact with said one sheet element afterthe latter passes between said rollers to guide said one sheet elementalong a path diverging from the path followed by the other sheet elementto positively segregate said primary and secondary sheet elements.

16. A combination as in claim 15 in which said primary sheet element hasthe extending marginal portion aforesaid, and in which said secondarysheet element is also fed by said feeding means between said rollerswith a marginal portion thereof extending axially beyond an end of saidsecondary roller; and secondary guide means disposed axially beyond saidsecondary roller end and extending between the axes of said rollers in aposition to be engaged by said marginal portion of said secondary sheetelement to deflect this between said rollers and then continue incontact with said secondary sheet element to direct this along a pathdiverging from the path followed by said primary sheet element topositively segregate said primary and secondary sheet elements.

17. A combination as in claim 16 in which said marginal portion of saidprimary sheet element extends axially beyond an end of said primaryroller while said marginal portion of said secondary'sheet elementextends axially 'heyond 'the opposite end of said secondary roller.

18L A combination asin claim '17 in which sa'idrollers I are disposed inolfs'et relation endwise so that said-marginal portion of 'said primarysheet element passespartiall'y around and is supported inwardly by an.end'portion of'said secondary roller which; extends. axially 'beyond,the adjacent end of the primary roller, and saidrnargiiial portion ofsaid secondary sheet elementfpas ses partially around and is supportedinwardly by an opposite end portion offsaid primary roller, whichextends axially beyond the adjacent end of said secondary roller.

19. In a printing machine, the combination of primary and secondaryrollers mounted in parallel rollinghrelation with each other; means fordriving said rollers for simultaneously drawing ,therebetween a blank tobe printed' on, and amaster printing, card having a negative providedthereon intransfer material on the face, of said card turned towardssaid blank, whereby a positive print ofsaid negative is transferred tosaid blank as said'blank and said card are compressed together betweensaid ro'llers, said blanks and printing cards comprising primary andsecondary sheet elements in said printingtoperation; means for feedingsaid sheet elements between said rollers to efiect a printing operationas aforesaid, with said primary sheet element contacting, said primaryroller and .said secondary element contactinglsaid secondary roller,

pass, from between said rollers to effect segregation of saidsheetelementstfell'owing the printingoperation.

References Cited in'the' file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,629,130: Storck; May 17, 1927 1,637,833 Mueller .Aug. 2, 19272,054,344 Storck Sept. 15, 1936 2,269,086 Morris Jan. .6, 1942 2,491,369[Ford Dec; 13, 1949 2,572,450 Crissy O'ct. 23, 1951 2,820,408 WilliamsJan. 21, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 673,248 Great Britain June 4, 1952

